Next year, I’ll be flying transatlantic, and I’m in need of a couple of good suitcases with wheels. I’ve done some preliminary shopping on line, but the options are overwhelming. I’d like some opinions on hard vs. soft, suitcase vs. duffle, what features I should look for, what I should avoid, whether brands or options.
Price is not the primary consideration, but I don’t need the bestest luggage ever made. I want something that will survive baggage handlers, stay closed, and max out at 50# fully loaded.
My luggage is from the Samsonite Silhouette line of soft-sided luggage. It’s made of a nylon fabric. The larger bag has two wheels but the newer carry-on bag has four wheels, meaning that it will move about standing up, which is useful in a big airport. They also have very lightweight hard-sided luggage if that’s what you want. I’ve bought my luggage at Macy’s on sale, and I’d recommend that you visit that or a similar store so that you can see several different lines.
I am a big Eagle Creek fan, for a large part because of their warranty.
I have a backpack that dates back to 1999 and has been subjected to every chicken bus and mail train on five continents (not to mention occasional domestic duty hauling laundry or groceries), and it’s still holding strong. I had a buckle break once around 2005, and they replaced it without question. I had it break again last year, and they finally told me that my backpack was considered “past it’s lifetime” and I’d have to shell out three bucks for a new buckle.
Oh well, it was time for grownup luggage anyway. I just invested in a lightweight Eagle Creek carry on with their “no matter what” warranty. I found it on sale for $60, down from over $200. I expect it will last me another decade or so of hard travel.
I bought a set of Heys luggage a couple of years ago and we’ve used and abused them and they still look like new. They’re light, have 4 wheels (which is more important than you think, now that I’ve had that feature I’m never letting it go) and come in a wide variety of awesome designs making finding any checked luggage a breeze.
Just did 3 weeks in Germany with Eagle Creek bags. We got the Backpack types with wheels which was very handy. Ended up being able to do carry on only and just washing stuff in hotels.
I’m sure it’s a great warranty, but I checked the website and a 22" carry-on is about $300. (I’m not sure if you can buy this stuff at discount in a retail store.) That’s a lot. You can walk into a discount store like Kohl’s, Target, Marshall’s or TJ Maxx and find similar-looking luggage for a lot less. For example, I just checked the Target website and they have basic wheeled nylon carry-on bags for about fifty bucks.
So if you’re frugal or you travel very infrequently, one option is to buy the cheap stuff. Probably no lifetime warranty, but at those prices, you could replace the luggage after a while.
My only suggestion is you avoid black- or red-colored luggage. I recommend a loud color or pattern for ease of identification. My luggage is absolutely hideous, but I always instantly know which one is mine, and getting myself out of the airport as soon as possible is important (to me, at least).
I agree. In addition, if your luggage is not run of the mill looking, chances are another traveler will not accidently try to take it during baggage claim.
Mine is an Antler. It is light, which means I can pack more stuff in it without going over the weight restrictions. It has four wheels which makes it way easier to maneuver, I would never go back to a two-wheeled suitcase. The exterior is a hard shell, which I guess makes it more durable? I haven’t owned it long enough to say, but it has survived several trans-Atlantic flights. It’s a boring grey colour, but has coloured ribbon on the handle for easy identification.
You can usually find heavy discounts of last year’s models online if you keep your eye out. My Ease carry on was $60.00 on Amazon (List price $295), but $100-$125 is more common for sale items. So for the price of two cheapo bags you can get one decent one.
The good stuff is better- the handles don’t bend, the wheels don’t stick, the pockets are well placed. They also include well-thought-out features. Mine has hidden coat strap (amazing for my yearly winter trip home), extra handles in very smart places, just the right amount of internal organization, lockable zippers, packing cube integration,etc. It’s really amazing how much easier travel is when your luggage has been really designed inside and out by people with a passion for that sort of thing.
But it does depend on need. I travel often, sometimes for business, and hate shopping, so I wanted something awesome that looks classy and will last me a decade. I’ve gone through countless “whatever is cheap at Target” essentially disposable suitcases and there really is no comparison.
Lightweight hardcase 27" spinner from Bric’s. Deeply discounted at STP, also picked up a nice softsided carry on from Timbuktu that fit over the handle. And that is all i had for 2 weeks in Europe, it was the lightest I have ever travelled.
As a travel agency owner and traveler for many years, I have had hard, soft, duffles - you name it. They all have their advantages, but the one thing they have in common is virtually no protection from theft. Pillaging baggage handlers, I mean. A zipper can be compromisedand you would never know it.
I’ve had Pelican cases for radio gear, cameras, and guns for years. Why not luggage? They’re indestructible and come in different colors, and have wheels. They will last a lifetime, and have that guarantee.
Pelican cases come in hundreds of sizes from carry-on to help-me-move-this-body.
I still have our soft Swiss Army bags, but they’re just for going on local trips or to the beach house. If we fly, we fly with Pelicans, international or local.
Waterproof, gorilla-proof, tamper-proof, indestructible; every expedition you see carries their stuff in Pelicans. Don’t your undies deserve the same protection?
My worry with Pelicans (which are indeed indestructible) is that they are commonly used to transport expensive gear, making them a temping target for thieves hoping for more than dirty undies. If I had to steal one bag, it’d definitely be the Pelican.
I prefer security through obscurity, keeping my bag black and nondescript. I might get pilfered by random chance, but at least I won’t be targeted.
I traveled for a living for a lot of years and found Atlantic luggage to be nearly indestructible and reasonably priced. I still have two pieces of carry-on luggage made by them.
